"Roots. That's a good word for it. Everybody's got a family tree and just to know how the roots grew, well that gives you a sense of who you are." spoken by Martha Corinne Walton, The Waltons, Episode 10, 1976

David's Reformed Church Congregation

Thursday, April 1, 2010

I was very surprised and excited today when I discovered that Dionne Ford who writes the incredible Finding Josephine Genealogy blog, has passed the "Ancestor Approved" award to me.

As a recipient of this award I'm supposed to list ten things I have learned about any of my ancestors that have surprised, humbled, or enlightened me and pass along the award to ten other bloggers who I feel are doing their ancestors proud.

Coming up with these has been quite challenging, but they are as follows:

Surprised:

My 4th cousin, once removed, John Richard Swadener (1928-1996) was a crew member on The Que Sera Sera, and was part of the first group of Americans to set foot on the South Pole to place the American flag, 31 November, 1956. Mount Swadener located near the South Pole was named after him.

The town of Clio, Ohio, was once also called "Armstrong's Mill" because the family of my 3rd great grandfather, McLain Armstrong, owned a mill there. The town was flooded in order to create the Salt Fork Lake and State Park in Ohio. The covered bridge that Abraham Armstrong had built in 1810 was saved and sits in the Cambridge city park.

My great great grandfather, John Huffman, once went AWOL during the Civil War to come home and chop wood for his family. When he got there my great great grandmother, Nancy Johnson Huffman told him she didn't need him to chop wood because they had so many sons at home to do it!

My 3rd Great Grandfather, Amon Thomas Norris, was a Justice of the Peace in Frederick County, Maryland.

Enlightened/Thrilled by:
Discovering that:
My 5th great grandfather, Timothy Bennett was the first settler in Union Township, Clinton County, Ohio.

Samuel Hoblit, my 1st cousin, 7 times removed, was a good friend of Abraham Lincoln's and had him as a house guest many times.

My great great grandfather, Henry Mathias Routsong, was invited to dinner at the home of NCR Company president, John Patterson and was given a ride in one of the first "ottomobiles".

Humbled by:

The sacrifices of so many of my ancestors who served nobly in the Revolutionary War, The Civil War, The War of 1812, World Wars I and II, and Korea.

The execution of my 5th Great Grandfather, Peter B. Suman, who died because of his Brethren faith.

Those ancestors who braved great hardship to make a better life for themselves and their families in a new land and therefore, gave me the freedom and opportunity that I now have.

Lori, I am truly shocked, flabbergasted and humbled that you picked me. As Lindalee stated above, I didn't know about this award until reading your posting. Thank you so very much and congrats on you receiving it as well. Keep up the great work of honoring your ancestors!

The Graphics Fairy

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